Music festivals are synonymous with the perks of summer. In the past, concert-goers’ biggest concern was the prospect of dehydration or the degradation of personal hygiene due to a lack of bathing facilities, but ticket costs have quickly become one of the top reasons for opting out. In April, Coachella attendees paid a whopping $296 for three-day admission plus a $55 camp ground fee. After rumours that Led Zeppelin would reunite as Bonnaroo headliners in 2008, resale tickets were marked as high as $2,000. That is a far cry from the $18 that the average ticket holder forked out at 1969’s legendary Woodstock Music Festival.

There is still hope though, for audiophiles to get their fix without tapping into their college funds. Willamette Week’s Musicfest North West announced the lineup for their four-day festival which will only set buyers back a mere $50 for access to the entire affair. The concert will take place in Portland, Oregon, a locale renown for its musical celebrity and independent scene (Elliott Smith spent most of his career in the city). The festival commences September 3rd and runs through the 6th. And the price is not at the expense of the talent.

The current roster includes TV on the Radio, Afro-pop darlings Vampire Weekend, Mogwai and the didgeridoo wielding Xavier Rudd. Just to name a few. Last year the festival experienced a 75% increase in attendance since it’s conception in 2001, boasting acts like Rilo Kiley and Wolf Parade along with Portland’s own garage punks, The Thermals. Dually dedicated to the affordability of live music along with showcasing local talent, Musicfest NW accommodates the need for value and deviation from the mainstream.